Freight News, IT, Logistics

Government to “shelve” Single Trade Window

[ February 17, 2026   //   Chris Lewis ]

Logistics UK says that reports that the government has shelved the Single Trade Window IT scheme to simplify international trade are “deeply concerning”.

Head of trade policy, James Mills, said: “If true, they will be a blow for our members and there must be a credible alternative. Growing uncertainty makes it harder for businesses to plan and invest. The UK has fallen from 4th to 19th in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, and exporters continue to face unnecessary duplication and cost at the border.”

He added: “The Single Trade Window is not just about cutting red tape, it is also about growth and living standards. Previous government modelling suggested that a new post-Brexit border system, including efficiencies linked to a Single Trade Window, was expected to reduce costs for traders by around half a billion pounds a year. If the government wants to boost employment and raise living standards, cutting border friction must be at the heart of a trade-led growth strategy and is one of the quickest wins available.”

Tags: Logistics UK